How About Some R-e-s-p-e-c-t?
A video has just emerged of the Chinese military lockdown in Ngaba. It was shot clandestinely by Agence France-Presse and shows the tense faces of Tibetans living with an overwhelming number of military personnel, trucks and road blocks.
Can you imagine living in such a place? I can’t. But we all try to empathize, we try to enhabit that world on some level so we can understand. That’s why none of us would dare order Tibetans living in Ngaba or anywhere else in Tibet to stop burning themselves, or to stop protesting, or to stop fighting for what they want.
So where does Dibyesh Anand, a China-India scholar in London, get off advising the Dalai Lama to send such orders? In his Guardian: Comment is free piece, “China fears the living Tibetans — not those who set fire to themselves,” Anand gives the following reasons for his advice:
1) Self-immolation is violent and this action goes against Buddhist principles. “Won’t [the Dalai Lama’s] lifetime’s work go to waste if this novel form of political protest spreads like a wildfire?” he asks.
Firstly, he is somewhat disproportionately concerned about the fate of Buddhist principles (FYI, principles don’t bleed, people do). But believe me Anand, these monks and nun were acting because of the same concern. Time after time, they called out for “religious freedom” before setting themselves on fire. Their belief in the importance of Buddhism goes back to the fundamental element of Tibetan thinking that a monk or nun does religious practice for the benefit of all sentient beings. And while Anand might have some appreciation for Buddhism, for these monks and nuns, this is their life’s meaning.
Self-immolation isn’t necessarily violent either. By his definition of ‘violence,’ fasting is violent, as is wearing a girdle – well, they do hurt. But he’s really confusing the fiery nature of the act with its intention. Anyone who knows Tibetans know how much import we place on intention, and the intention of the actions was not to inflict violence but to express oneself, to release a call of protest and to generate power for Tibetans.
What’s more, self-immolation (though very rare in the Tibetan movement) has precedence in Buddhist texts, and was in fact enacted by the Bodhisattva All Beings Delight In Seeing. As written in chapter 23 of Lotus Sutra, the Bodhisattva decides to sacrifice his life as an offering to the Buddha by self-immolating for twelve hundred years.
The sentiments expressed are beautiful, and even gave me some comfort because it made me realize that there is a spiritual component to these young monks’ and nun’s actions that I never considered:
“By means of spiritual penetration power and vows, he burned his own body. The light shone everywhere throughout worlds in number to the grains of sand in eighty kotis of Ganges Rivers.
[The Buddhas responded] ‘Good man, this is called foremost giving. Among all gifts, it is the most honored and most supreme, because it is an offering of Dharma to the Thus Come Ones.'”
2) More and more Tibetans will feel a form of peer-pressure to show loyalty to the Dalai Lama, and thus they will burn themselves.
This is frankly insulting to Tibetans inside Tibet. They don’t act to show loyalty. They don’t burn themselves because their neighbors did it. This isn’t Saved by the Bell and they don’t make their decisions the way we decided to take a puff of our friend’s cigarette in the back of our high schools. Anand is trivializing the Tibetan crisis here and actually giving Tibetans the intelligence of infants.
3) Nobody cares about Tibet. The international media will get bored of the repetition of self-immolations, and Chinese people will think we are just as savage as they’ve always thought we are.
There’s a basic egocentrism here that presupposes that Tibetans inside Tibet are acting to send a message to Westerners, or Han Chinese. I don’t know. Maybe they are thinking about those audience demographics when they are getting ready to act, maybe not. But I’m going to suggest that these actions are probably also meant for the Tibetans in Tibet and in exile, and also for the Chinese government and military personnel actually living in Ngaba.
Ananda’s presumption is based on another presumption. That the Western world and Han Chinese are the power-holders in this situation and so they are the targets Tibetans would want to get on our side. I would venture to think that Tibetans inside Tibet see things closer to the ground, see the power passing hands from them to the Chinese authorities, and back and forth. I won’t get into theories of power, but power exists as a moving thing within groups, not inherently in any entity. It is a constant negotiation where members of the group must give power to someone within that group, or (in this case) try to take it away.
I believe that Tibetans inside Tibet (across the plateau, not just in Ngaba), as evidenced by the Lhakar movement, are seeing that the power is truly within their grasp. They are working strategically to take that power back from the Chinese authorities through economic, social and political non-cooperation.
So…this all gets me to the main reason why this article irked me to the core. It is condescending towards not only the 9 brave young Tibetan monks and nun who chose to do something for their people and nation, but towards all Tibetans, including His Holiness.
But to be fair, this isn’t something that Anand does alone. It’s symptomatic of a long-standing attitude from some Western scholars, politicians, corporations, and our Chinese oppressors alike: that they know what’s best for Tibetans. In all of this, it feels that no one really wants to listen to the Tibetans inside Tibet. Anand is essentially sympathetic to Tibetans, and probably sees himself as an ally of sorts. But Tibetans have taken much patronizing from our ‘patrons’ in the past.
Now it’s time to listen to Tibetans inside Tibet. And it’s time for us to answer their call.
FYI:
The Editorial Board of the Tibetan Political Review just came out with “Tibetan Freedom and the Day After” – a paper doing something that we as a community don’t do enough of: plan concretely and boldly for the future of our country and movement. I hope that this is just the start. We need as many people as possible working for the Tibetan cause (as thinkers, educators, activists, artists, writers, donors etc.) now.
That’s all for now. This is NYCYak, signing off. Ghale peh!
powerful riposte.
one thing but the hand does another ). I don’t want to posit a false uniiresalvty here, but isn’t this a condition that we can all relate to? The idea that Chinese society is somehow uniform and characterized by herd behaviour is always posited against an implicit (and fictitious) view of life in the West as not bound to social norms. Personally, I think that one of the interesting aspects of Chinese society is the degree to which people recognize the absurdity of the social contradictions they face every day. What I’m suggesting is that the society has not yet developed the capacity for misrecogntion (or masking? self-blindfolding?) that enables members of fully liberalized societies to pronounce judgement on societies completely foreign to themselves without irony. That many Chinese take exception on the grounds well covered is not surprising.
Thank you for this empowering article.
I was deeply disturbed to read Dibesh’s article in which he was trying to portray these self less acts of self immolation were something of less worthy. Their acts were not to keep their body and soul together rather it is most desperate act for the cause of 6 millions Tibet throughout the globe particularly inside Tibet. He is pretending as if there is room to express their unbearable pain and suffering inflicted upon them. As he is expert on Tibet, he is aware of how terrible the situation is inside Tibet since Chinese occupation. Yet, his pretentious thoughts and negative inclination on those brave young monks and nun are very hurtful to all Tibetans.
‘International media will soon lose interest for the repetitive deaths are not newsworthy (“what’s new?”)…..’ Honestly speaking, these medias are losing their credibility. If these media corporations act cowardly by not presenting true situation inside Tibet and other parts of the world, then I have deepest sense of pity on them. So long as international medias, world leaders and scholars ( Dear Dibesh, you are one of them) fail to speak up for atrocities that are taking place inside China and Tibet, you are morally doing wrong for the oppressed people. It is time for global leaders to push for diplomatic global intervention so as to refrain and stop Chinese regime from committing such atrocities and to uplift their human morality to the level of general consensus. Tibet is in dire situation and there is no time to weigh its negativity and helpfulness of the act. It is to bear in mind that desperate acts from Tibetans as young as 18yrs old are clear expression of unfathomable sufferings having experienced by Tibetans inside Tibet.
Absolutely agree! Well said.
Is the writer of the Guardian article saying that self-immolation damages Buddhism more than the Chinese repression of Buddhism in Ngaba does?
In most countries and cultures, when things get so bad that people can’t live their daily lives without constant abuse, they grab a gun, a knive or a bomb and react accordingly. It says a lot about how deeply these monks and nuns are devoted to Buddhist principles that even at that point they would rather hurt themselves than other people; their understanding of interdependency of all beings goes far beyond their egos, and it’s odd for journalists to assume they understand these principles better than those that practice them all day, every day- that in itself is highly disrespectful, these people know what they’re doing. And even physical violence often isn’t really violence if its in self defense; as a lay Buddhist I doubt if I could hold back from harming others in extreme circumstances, but these monks and nuns are doing it.
I’d go so far as to say that all those countries who worry about terrorism should have a look at Ngaba right now; these are people who resist turning to terror even in the most extreme circumstances. If you really want to make terrorism a less attractive option across the world, you need to be getting behind these Tibetans right now and making their movement work- it’d deter terrorism across the world.
And some good points made about who holds the power to change things right now. What’s happening in the movement is what us Westerners have looked forward to for a long time; it’s being led by Tibetans in Tibet. Or at least I hope that’s what Westerners have wanted, otherwise their principles are a little twisted. Some individuals (and sadly even some Tibet groups) will hold onto what they’re used to for a time, but they’ll all have to let go in the end, as will the Western governments have to let go of the idea that they are the power brokers here, and finally as the Chinese government will have to let go of Tibet altogether. It’ll be a bumpy road but Tibetans will look back on this in years to come and say this is one of those points in the movement where the call ‘support Tibet’ became ‘take back Tibet’.
Absolutely right. If it came to this point, it is because the whole world did not care and ignored the peacefull actions calling for help, even these actions were a life risk for every Tibetan.
If the struggle in Tibet will become worse then one ever could have imagined, then it is because, today where the Tibetans scream the loudest a human can scream for help, by immolating themselvs,
and the west again ignores them.
The behavior of the democratic countries and UNO towards Tibet is a shame and absolutely irresponsible.
If Tibetans inside Tibet will take things now in their own hands because in almost 60 years, no help came,… Is it really surprizing?
If we Tibetans change our policy of resistence, it will be just a natural consequence of having been ignored and left alone in a most inhumane situation.
Tibetans die because they fight for the very survival of the Tibetan identity, .. for the freedom to live as Tibetans, as Buddhists, with freedom of speech, right of dignity and the right to have your Lama there, where he belongs.
Tibetans, a few people, fighted almost 60 years to not become communists, no democratic country felt worth to support
This article put me in mind of an earlier exchange between the well-known Tibetan writer Woeser (in Beijing) and an otherwise liberal Chinese reader. I post here in translation from Chinese:
Chinese reader: “Tibetans who commit self-immolation are fairly lacking in sense. Any self-immolation can only illustrate the self-immolator’s clinging to a fantasy of the authorities’ ultimate goodwill. And it just proves that the authorities couldn’t care less about their cries. Every life lost is to be deplored. I hope the Dalai Lama will wisely advise the mass of monks to refrain from any further self-immolation.”
Woeser: “No one regrets the loss of life in self-immolation more than Tibetans. But I truly resent the assessment that ‘Tibetans who commit self-immolation are fairly lacking in sense’.”
Chinese reader: “Woeser’s heart is gentle and merciful. But in a society bereft of hope a single suicide (for whatever reason) can become something contagious through media reports, spreading so that its imitative influence on more people in similar straits (‘the support effect’) becomes wide-reaching. In order to avoid greater loss of life we should reflect on guidance in disseminating news of self-immolation.”
Woeser: “Excuse me. Whatever my heart is like, that’s not at issue in this discussion. Your comments here are seemingly reasonable. What I resent is what is in the previous message, which betrays a feeling of some sort of superiority and infallibility. How can you know that Tibetans who commit self-immolation cling to fantasies about the authorities? How can you know that Tibetans who commit self-immolation have no wisdom, no sense? With astonishment, I read in that message something similar to what one gets from the authorities. What I’m pointing out is your approach to Tibetans who commit self-immolation.”
Woeser (again): “Regarding your tweet, I’d like to ask, how many media reports ‘disseminate news of self-immolation?’ Does China’s media report it? Foreign media report it but can Tibetans inside (especially in Rnga-ba, which is tightly sealed off) know about it? How can there be ‘guidance in disseminating news of self-immolation?’ I’ll thank you not to stand on some high stage and evaluate things without understanding the situation in Tibetan areas.”
Thank you Prof. Elliot for the post and translation. Highly appreciated.
— LD Team.
I feel the critic towards Dibyesh is somewhat out of proportion now. Firstly it is important to respect everyone who practices freedom in thought and expression. I tis important to consider every opinion, no matter from which angle it is viewed, but mainly when the opinion is from somebody who sincerely cares for Tibet, who beside that also is a bright person who has proved in other articles his strong support for our cause and his admiration for HHt Dalai Lama. We should not get too touchy when friends with critical mind dare to express them self. It is a constructive critic.
I know Dibyesh good enough, to say, he does not intend to be disrespectful towards anyone. This really is a misunderstanding.
While I’m fully understanding the self immolations and why we Tibetans reached this painfully and lonely state, where our people back in Tibet have to do such violent acts,.. I wish strongly and I pray daily that it would stop now.
Yes I also wish that HHt Dalai Lama could do something that not one more Tibetan does indulge himself and his family such horrible suffering.
I’m full of admiration of the determination and courage of our Pawos and I see that it does move now the world a little. Mainly it did wake up us Tibetans worldwide, …
But human lives are ended in a horrible and irreversible way. We can’t ignore that and just look at the heroic deed.
No one with a Buddhist mind can wish that any one dies that way. We can not hope that self immolations go on till the situation of Tibet changes for better.
People like Dibyesh, who are not Tibetans and are true friends of Tibet, have the right to question, they even should contribute their opinions from outside it forces us to think further and to analyze our steps… May be to stand up even more firmly behind the self immolation victims.
I know that every Tibetan has full understanding and full respect but many Tibetans wish and prays that it stops because we need our bravest people alive.
Tibet will be free and we need their help for the fight.
I’ve seen Hu Jintao visiting Austria and I saw how little Austria reported about the self immolations, even we sent them intensively all informations.
Austria is small but the proportion of the reactions worldwide is about that.
To change Chinas Tibet Policy and to stop the agony of the Tibetan people, we have to start an intensive campaign to inform the average civil worldwide about Chinas world policy, about corruption of UN and their own governments dirty business with China.
I ask Dibyesh, to research on that and to write an article about these subjects, if he really cares that these self immolations stop.
All of us we have to work on that. Highlight Chinas dirty business with the world, to convince the world population that China is a big danger not only to Tibet but also to them self. Look back on history. People get up and revolt, when they do not agree with their leaders any more. Lets show to the western average population, what the governments tries to hide.
Lets not be just critical and disrespectful towards intelligent supporters like Dibyesh Anand. Lets show them where we need them most.
I prefere friends who provocate me and force me to think and to react , then friends acting like my shadow.
Bhod Gyalo
Tseten Zöchbauer
Friends/supporters/sympathizers/etc. should check their well-placed (misplaced?) sympathy if and when they want to take ownership/authorship regarding a peoples struggle. Regardless of their good intentions, good intentions can always be misplaced. Especially when you want to use a highly visible (Guardian) platform to do this. Whether Dibyesh cares for the Tibetan people or not is not the issue, the issue, I for one, take is the misinformed “blame the victim” stance he took. Remember, millions of Guardian readers are not well-versed on Tibet.
Who Dibyesh is pertaining to Tibet/ans matters little when he feels the agency to speak (misinformed) volumes about a people’s struggle.
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While I agree with the rebuke of Anand’s presumptions and near-dismissals of Tibetan agency, I disagree with another’s self-appointed agency, whose cunning seems to have gripped the brightest of minds. How equipped is Ms. Woeser to speak for Tibetans? Ms. Cheng Weisa, half-Tibetan at best! And I’m sick and tired of seeing how promoted she is as an “authentic” or “iconic” Tibetan voice!
If you must see Ms. Cheng as such a voice, then grant Tashi Dawa (Zhaxi Dawa) the same if not greater appreciation.
People from all sides and walks of life seem to be lunging at the opportunity to “represent” Tibet, be its voice, etc.
I think, if people were more honest about their identity and just present themselves as avid supporters, their willingness to counter the Chinese narrative and speak out would sit better in the entire context and would subconsciously even do more justice to the Tibetans who take such incredible risks to resist.
In this sense, Anand’s transparency is of merit.